Composition of matter and process of using the same



' oil.

naphthalene and carbolic acidin Patented June 23, 1942 Grover C. ?orter,Maricopa, Calif.

No Drawing. Application November 24, 1939,

Serial No. 305,938

7 Claims. (Cl. 252-331) This invention relates to a composition ofmatter and to a process for using the same in the demulsification ofpetroleum oil products.

one case I have used 15 gallons of my composition to 1000 barrels crudeoil of about 14 gravity The object of the invention is to provide acomposition of matter and a process for using the same which willeconomically and effectively demulsify water in oil emulsions,particularly oil field emulsions, so that the water and the oil may beseparated. I

. My composition consists of a mixture of naphthalene and phenol,preferably crude carbolic acid, dissolved or dispersed in a solventwhich is miscible or soluble in the oil of the emulsion.

For this solvent, I preferably use a petroleumtained, however, when theingredients are varied within the following limits: naphthalene, to 15pounds; crude carbolic acid, 1- to 3 pounds;

stove oil, to 1 gallons. Naphthalene alone dissolved in stove oilefl'ects some demulsification, but is not satisfactory; carbolic acidalone in the stove oil doesnot break the oil emulsions; a combination ofthe two effects almost complete demulsification and is commerciallysatisfactory and economical.

The stove oil may be replaced by any equivalent petroleum solvent whichwill dissolve the carbolic acid and the naphthalene, and I have usedkerosene, Diesel oil, and light crude oil with good results. In order toprovide a heavier liquid whichis easier to handle with certain types ofproportioning pumps, I may add to each gallon of my mixture about onepint of heavy crude to use flake naphthalene, although other formsincluding unrefined naphthalene may also be used.

These ingredients are mixed and agitated until the solids are dissolved.Mrprocess of demulsiflcation of crude oil comprises dissolving the thesolvent such containing six percent water and emulsion. After.introduction of my material, and standing for five days at atmospherictemperature of about F. substantially all of the water including that inthe emulsified portion settled out and was easily separated from crudeoil. Heating of the crude oil emulsion to temperatures up to about F.(above which volatile portions would be lost) is advantageous in thatthe speed of demulsification is increased, but heating is not necessaryif the mixture is allowed to stand for a few days.

In another case, with slightly diflerent crude oil, I introduced mycomposition into the pipe line going to the storage tanks in the ratioof one gallon to barrels of oil, and satisfactory demulsification andseparation of water from oil was efiected in the tank. The amount of .mycomposition which will be required in any particular oil will dependupon the amount of emulsified material present, and upon the inherentstability of the emulsion, and the quantities given are illustrativeonly.

I claim:

1. The process of demulsification ofwater-inoil emulsions comprisingtreating the emulsion with a solution consisting of naphthalene andphenol in a dispersing liquid in which these materials and the oil ofthe emulsion are mutually miscible. I i

2. The process of demulsification of water-inoil emulsions comprisingdispersing a mixture of naphthalene and phenol in a solvent in whichthese materials and the oil are mutually miscible,

mixing the dispersion with the emulsion, and separating the oil andwater.

3. A composition of matter for breaking waterin-oil emulsion consistingof a mixture of naphleum oil emulsions consisting of a mixture of.naphthalene and carbolic acid dissolved in a petroleum solvent.

5.. A composition of matter consisting of about 1 part by weight ofnaphthalene to 2 parts .by weight carbolic aciddissolved in a petroleumsolj vent.

6. A composition of, matter consisting of from r to 1 /2 pounds ofnaphthalene, l to 3 pounds of as stove oil, and then mixing 10 to 15gallons of my composition with 1000 barrels of crude oil containingemulsion. By introducing the composition-into the inlet pipe to thetank, as the tank is being filled, I get thorough mixing and nofurthermechanical stirring is required. In

carbolic acid, and to 1 gallons of a petroleum solvent.

7. A composition of matter consisting of 1% pounds of naphthalene, 2pounds of carbolic acid, and one gallon of stove oil.

GROVER C. PORTER.

the emulsion to v

